September 2012

The next few posts are of stuff we did in September.  With the mood of the summer holidays still in the air we had a lot of fun and did some of the stuff we didn't get to do before we went to South Africa for August.  It seems so long ago now especially on a day like today when there's frost everywhere and it is zero degrees!

Museum Day

We usually head for the Natural History Museum or the Science Museum but on this occasion we decided to try out the V&A Museum, and what a great success it was.  They have so much geared towards making the children enjoy their day at the museum.  Danny got an Agent Animal Backpack containing animal blocks with that made corresponding sounds and providing clues as where to find them in the museum. Nicholas chose the Picnic Party Trail which also involved a kind of treasure hunt where he had to find different displays and solve puzzles as well as do some drawings and designs of his own.  When we needed a break from it all we stepped into the tranquillity in the garden for a picnic and the boys played in the fountains.  We'll definitely be going there again!

Theatre Day

We managed to catch the tail end of the Kids Week and went to see the Wizard of Oz.  It was amazing to see a real proper west end show.  The boys are familiar with the story so they really lapped up every minute of it.  Before the show we went for dinner, naturally, at the Cape Town Fish Market of all places. Nicholas has been eating, and enjoying, oysters since he was a wee tot but Danny still finds the whole experience a bit weird.  Don't expect him not to try his best however!

Birthday

The Last Night of the Proms always takes place around my birthday so it is a good excuse to go out for a bit of a celebration.  We always go to Hyde Park so that we can take the boys along.  They love classical music and happily sing along to Land of Hope and Glory, Rule Britannia (or Botswana sometimes) etc and there was even a bit of Abba (familiar thanks to last year's interhouse singing competition at Donhead) and Kylie herself (believe it or not she is still going strong).  It was great fun as usual!

Yes, it's true, I turned 40!  Does that mean I am middled aged?  The boys wouldn't have been happy if we didn't do some baking.  Since one of the topics at school at the time for both of them was self portraits, I went for these face decorating kits.  I kind of regret not having a big party so I'm planning to have a 41st next year to make up for it!

Beach Day

On the hottest day of the summer, 30 degrees on the 9/9/2012, we joined what felt like the rest of country and headed for the beach.  I did a lot of research selecting an idyllic beach off the beaten track at the far end of Kent, but after 2 hours in the car we decided to end the misery and go to the nearest beach to where we were.  It happened to be Herne Bay.  We found a sandy beach, a pebble beach, a pub and a ruin.  The boys had a ball so it was worth it in the end!

Country Day

While I was in South Africa for Gogo's funeral, Dad took the boys to visit The Jacksons in the countryside.  Evidently they had a lovely time at a family fun day at the Winkworth Arboretum.  Looks like a great selection of activities on offer!